Peepsight

ABSTRACT

A molded peepsight for a crossbow or rifle having in one integral structure a cone or horn portion, a neck portion extending from the apex of the cone portion, a pair of wing members at the end of the neck portion opposite the cone portion, and an axial aperture extending through the wing members, neck, and cone portions. The wing members extend in diametrically opposite directions to permit being passed through an elongated slot in a sight bracket when oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot. Thereafter the peepsight is rotated 90*, causing the wing members to grip the sight bracket on each side of the slot and thereby mount the peepsight. The free ends of the wing members are provided with a detent and bevelling to assist the mounting and seating of the peepsight on the bracket. An aperture extending through the peepsight is conically shaped tapering in a direction from the rear toward the front of the peepsight.

United States Patent Bettencourt Dec. 2, 1975 l l PEEPSIGHT Primary Examiner-Stephan L. Stephan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale [75] Inventor: Pierre Andre Bettencourt, Duarte.

Calif [57] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee wham 0 g Co San Gabriel A molded peepsight for a crossbow or rifle having in Calif one integral structure a cone or horn portion, a neck portion extending from the apex of the cone portion, a [22] Filed: Aug. 12, 1974 pair of wing members at the end of the neck portion Appl. No; 496,475

opposite the cone portion, and an axial aperture extending through the wing members, neck. and cone portions. The wing members extend in diametrically opposite directions to permit being passed through an elongated slot in a sight bracket when oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot. Thereafter the peepsight is rotated 90, causing the wing members to grip the sight bracket on each side of the slot and thereby mount the peepsight. The free ends of the wing members are provided with a detent and bevelling to assist the mounting and seating of the peepsight on the bracket. An aperture extending through the peepsight is conically shaped tapering in a direction from the rear toward the front of the peepsight.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,922,795

Sheet 2 of 2 3,922,795

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 PEEPSIGI-IT DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The present invention relates to peepsights and in particular peepsights intended for use with crossbows. t

In a typical crossbow arrangement, aiming is accomplished by use of a notched front sight and a flip-up rear sight. The rear sight comprises a rear sight bracket and a peepsight mounted in an elongated slot in the upper portion of the bracket with the peepsight in such an arrangement being comprised of three separate pieces, a cone shaped member, a disc shaped, apertured member, and a lock washer.

To assemble the peepsight, the cone shaped member was mounted on the sight bracket with an extension from the apex passing through the slot. The rear member was then mounted over the extension on the opposite side of the bracket by means of the aperture. Thereafter the lock washer was force-fitted over the extension and seated in a detent formed in the rear member to lock the assembly in place.

The disadvantages of the prior art peepsight were several, including the inherent disadvantage of having a multipiece arrangement entailing expense in manufacture and original assembly. The disadvantage of a multiple-piece construction also applied to the user of the crossbow, since it entailed the necessity for having all three parts as spares in order to repair or reassemble a damaged peepsight. The problem of manipulating three parts including a force-fitted lock washer added to the difficulties and complications inherent in the design.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides an improved peepsight for use on a sighting and aiming device having a sight bracket, an elongated slot in the sight bracket, and means for mounting the bracket on the implement with which the device is used. The peepsight comprises a cone portion, an integrally formed neck portion extending from the apex of the cone portion, and a pair of wing members integrally formed with the neck portion at the end thereof opposite the cone portion, each of the wing members extending in diametrically opposite directions transversely of the axis of the body portion. The peepsight has a sighting aperture concentric with the axis of the cone portion extending through the wing members, neck portion, and body portion.

The advantages of the present invention are several, including the elmination of multiple parts for the peepsight. In addition, the construction allows the user to mount and remove the peepsight from the rear sight bracket with a simple 90 clockwise or counterclockwise twist of the one-piece peepsight. In addition, the wing members are designed with a built-in spring tension to give even tension throughout adjustments, permitting quick and easy elevation adjustment. The conical design of the sight aperture extending through the peepsight eliminates the ghosting effect of right cylindrical apertures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crossbow having a peepsight according to the present invention mounted on the rear sight bracket;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view partially in section of the onepiece peepsight of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the steps of mounting of the peepsight on the rear sight bracket, and

FIG. 4 is a section view of the assembled rear sight, showing the peepsight according to the present invention mounted and seated on the rear sight bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The crossbow shown in FIG. 1 comprises a stock 10, a bow 12, a bowstring 14, front sight 16, and a rear sight assembly 18. The bowstring is latched in a trigger assembly housed within stock 10 which comprises a trigger 22 and a bowstring locking mechanism 24. An arrow 26 is mounted in the crossbow.

The rear sight assembly comprises a rear sight bracket 28 in which is mounted a one-piece peepsight 30 according to the present invention. The bracket 28 is pivotally mounted on bowstring locking mechanism 24 at the rear thereof to provide a flip-up peepsight. The rear sight bracket is provided with a slot 32 which is elongated in the vertical direction to permit vertical adjustment of the peepsight for moving the sight to the proper elevation depending on distance to the target.

An enlarged and detailed elevation view of the onepiece peepsight 30 of the present invention is shown in partial section in FIG. 2. As shown therein, the peepsight 30 comprises a cone or horn portion 34, the conical configuration being present in both the interior 35 and exterior 37 aspects of portion 34, a neck portion 36 integrally formed with the apex end of the cone portion 34 and a pair of wing members 38, 40, integrally formed with neck portion 36 at the end thereof opposite cone portion 34. An annular shoulder 42 is formed on the exterior of the cone portion of the apex end of the cone portion and bridges between neck portion 36 and cone portion 34 to provide a bearing surface against the sides of the slot in the rear sight bracket when the peepsight is mounted on the bracket. The free ends 39, 41 of the wing members 38 and 40 are provided with detents 44, 46 respectively and one corner of the free end of each of said wing members is bevelled at 48, 50.

An aperture 52 extends through the adjoining ends of the wing members 38, 40, the neck portion 36, and cone portion 34 and opens into the conically shaped interior 35 of the cone portion. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, aperture 52 tapers and necks down in a direction from the rear toward the front of the peepsight. This conical shape of the aperture 52 of the peepsight is a particular feature of the present invention and eliminates ghosting of target images previously encountered with peepsights of the prior art.

The steps of mounting of the peepsight of the present invention are illustrated by reference to FIG. 3. Sight 30 is advanced toward bracket 28 with the wing members 38 and 40 being vertically oriented such that they can be passed through the longitudinal slot 32 in the rear sight bracket. After being passed through the bracket such that shoulder 42 (not shown in FIG. 3) seats on the front side of bracket 28, the wing members are manipulated by such means as a pair of pliers 54 and turned such that the bevelled corners 48, lo-

cated on corresponding opposed corners of the free ends of the wing members engaged the sides 56, 58 re spectively of the rear sight bracket slot 32 and ride up and over the rear side of the bracket as the peepsight is rotated 90 until the wing members snap" into posi tion transversely of the slot with the detents 44, 46 at the free ends overlapping the exterior edges of the bracket.

In FIG. 4 a fully assembled rear sight is shown. including the peepsight according to the present invention and the rear sight bracket. By fabricating the peepsight of a material such as Delrin, the peep sight of the present invention is made of a flexible material, giving the wing members 38, 40 a built-in spring tension and results in an even tension being exerted by the wing members throughout adjustments. In comparison to prior art peepsights. it takes a uniform lesser amount of force to effect elevation adjustments of the peepsight of the present invention. Choice of the material such as Delrin also allows the sight to be used under extremes of temperature, with an extreme high temperature resistance of 185F.

As shown in FIG. 4, wing members 38, 40 are flexed in the direction away from the front of the crossbow with the tabs or detents 44, 46 formed at the free ends thereof being adapted to fit over and grip the exterior side edges of the bracket. In the deflected or flexed positions. the wing members form an angle of approximately 3 to a line transverse to the axis of the peepsight. In the unflexed position. the wing members are bent so that the angle is approximately The wing members. neck portion, and shoulder are formed so as to provide a close-fitting receptacle for the vertical arms of the rear sight bracket which define slot 32.

In disassembly, removal of the peepsight of the present invention is accomplished by another 90 turn of the peepsight.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sighting and aiming device having a sight bracket. an elongated slot in the sight bracket, and means for mounting the bracket on the implement with which the device is used, the improvement comprising a peepsight having a cone portion;

An integrally formed neck portion extending from the apex of the cone portion and generally axially thereof:

a pair of wing members integrally formed with the neck portion at the end thereof opposite the cone portion, each of the wing memberl extending in generally opposite directions transversely of the axis of the cone portion. and

a sighting aperture concentric with the axis of the cone portion extending through the wing members. neck portion and opening into the cone portion.

2. A sighting and aiming device according to claim I wherein the aperture is conically shaped and tapered down in the direction from the wing members to the cone portion.

3. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein the wing members are shaped so as to pass through the slot when oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

4. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein an annular shoulder is formed in the exterior of the cone portion at the junction between the cone portion and the neck portion, the shoulder being adapted to bear against the sides of the bracket defining the slot.

5. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein the wing members are flexible to grip the sides of the bracket slot.

6. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein a corner of the free end of a wing member is bevelled to slide and guide the wing member over the sides of the bracket slot during rotation of the wing member from the parallel to transverse orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

7. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 5 wherein the wing members are bent in the unflexed position and grip the sides of the bracket slot when the peepsight is mounted on the bracket and the members oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

8. The peepsight according to claim 7 including a detent formed at the free end of the wing member, the length of the wing member being arranged such that the detent seats around and against the outer edge of the side of the bracket slot when the peepsight is 

1. In a sighting and aiming device having a sight bracket, an elongated slot in the sight bracket, and means for mounting the bracket on the implement with which the device is used, the improvement comprising a peepsight having a cone portion; An integrally formed neck portion extending from the apex of the cone portion and generally axially thereof; a pair of wing members integrally formed with the neck portion at the end thereof opposite the cone portion, each of the wing members extending in diametrically opposite directions transversely of the axis of the cone portion, and a sighting aperture concentric with the axis of the cone portion extending through the wing members, neck portion and opening into the cone portion.
 2. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is conically shaped and tapered down in the direction from the wing members to the cone portion.
 3. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein the wing members are shaped so as to pass through the slot when oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot.
 4. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein an annular shoulder is formed in the exterior of the cone portion at the junction between the cone portion and the neck portion, the shoulder being adapted to bear against the sides of the bracket defining the slot.
 5. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein the wing members are flexible to grip the sides of the bracket slot.
 6. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 1 wherein a corner of the free end of a wing member is bevelled to slide and guide the wing member over the sides of the bracket slot during rotation of the wing member from the parallel to transverse orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the slot.
 7. A sighting and aiming device according to claim 5 wherein the wing members are bent in the unflexed position and grip the sides of the bracket slot when the peepsight is mounted on the bracket and the members oriented transverse to the longitudinal axiS of the slot.
 8. The peepsight according to claim 7 including a detent formed at the free end of the wing member, the length of the wing member being arranged such that the detent seats around and against the outer edge of the side of the bracket slot when the peepsight is mounted on the bracket. 